Capt (Retd) Eric Southern RA who served with B Flight, 656 Squadron, in the Second World War Burma campaign. Eric died in July, just short of his 99th birthday.
He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in Aug 1942, and completed 21 AOP course on 8 Jul 1943. Mike Gregg was on the same course, and they both went immediately to 656 Squadron in Stapleford Tawney as the Squadron’s first reinforcements. Only one month after completing their AOP course they both sailed for India and Burma.
After the war Eric returned to his studies at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, where he had started to study Classics in 1939. After graduation, and teaching qualifications, he embarked on a remarkable academic career that was to last right up to his death, being described by a colleague at his memorial service as “an inspirational teacher in whatever subject he chose to address”.
Our thoughts go out to his daughter, Jane Southern and her family.
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